The Beginning Called Past

Realize, Real Lies

It is almost noon and I'm still in my bed. I am supposed to go to the office after lunch. I am way behind my Sunday schedule.

I decided to call Hailee, my secretary, to just take the day off since it is impossible for me to concentrate on work today. I was a bit harsh to her yesterday when I asked her to come to work on her rest day. Yes, I admit, I am a bit workaholic but I hate to be working alone. I felt bad for Hailee because she has a daughter and she has a reason to enjoy her days off. It's so bad that Rob has to happen first before I realize I was being very insensitive to her.

She immediately picked up after a few rings.

"Hey Lars, I am on the way now. I just dropped Kayla to Mom's and asked her to watch over her. Sorry I am running late." Hailee answered.

"Hailee, hey, um, you can take the day off. I am so sorry about last night. I shouldn't have asked you to work today. Let's take a day off and I'll see you on Monday."

"Why? Are you sick?"

"No, I just, um, something important came up."

"You sure? Okay. Thanks for calling and letting me know. Are you sure you're okay?

"Yeah, I am. I'm good. Kiss Kayla for me."

"Alright. I will. See you Monday."

I felt better after I hang up. I decided to go out for a coffee. Maybe a cup of coffee will lighten up my mood a little bit more.

The coffee shop isn't on it's usual Sunday ambiance. There are lesser people which is better because I will have all the quietness I need to think about what may happen tonight.

"Hey gorgeous, good morning! The usual?" Jeremy, the manager, asked me.

"Hi, not a very good morning for me, but yeah, I'll have the usual. And throw in some pancakes too, please." I answered.

"Must've been a pretty bad break up this time huh?" He joked. He knew me so well, we were friends ever since I moved out here. Jeremy is a really cool guy and I trust him with everything. We started hanging out after I made a desperate move to ask him out one day after grabbing a coffee (he was still a barista) a few years back. It turned out he was gay, so much to feel ashamed about. He is such a gentleman, he still went out with me that night though and hooked me up with one of his friends, Aiden, who was a member of a band regularly playing in the bar we went to.

"No.. I don't have any serious relationship now and you know that. Just hungover from last night. But the aroma of your deliciously brewed coffee will make it all go away." I answered back, leaning forward to him and batting my eyelashes.

"You are always a charm."

"And you are the sweetest of all," I said and he laughed. "Go find your seat and I'll have it served to you in a few."

I chuckled and went straight to my usual stopping place, the very corner of the shop. I can see people walking past the shop having their usual Sunday routines. After a few moments of staring outside, my gaze fixed on a young couple. The guy is laughing at the girl who can't seem to ride his bike. The girl stepped out of the bike, threw a sharp eye at the guy and frowned, and the guy immediately hugged her and kissed her on her shoulders. He then stepped on the bike and motioned the girl to sit at the back. The girl smiled and they rode the bike together.My mind immediately flashed back to the days Rob used to kiss me on my shoulders. He always did that. I felt my eyes tear up a little at the thought. And I can't seem to go out of the train of thoughts I am now into...

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"It's been weeks, Alice. He hasn't returned my calls." I told my best friend.

"Just chill, he's probably busy with the college thing. He's texted you though, right?" she answered while sipping on her favorite mango-banana smoothie. We were in her room, I asked if I can drop by because I really feel bad the past few weeks. Rob hasn't called me since he went back.

"Yes, he's texted me. Twice Alice. Twice in the last 3 weeks! That's not him. It's not normal for us. I mean, we've done this before and it wasn't like this last year. I won't feel okay until I hear his voice. And it felt like he's ditching me for some college girls now. What do you think?" I asked, slouching in her bed, really feeling sick in my stomach.

"Stop overthinking! I know Rob, he's not that type of guy. The best thing you can do is call him and tell him you're being paranoid. If he doesn't answer, then leave a message saying how you feel. I'm sure he's gonna call you as soon as he hears it. Trust me. I know. I've done that with my exes." She answered.

"Alice, I've never seen one of those 'exes'. Your relationships are very much different from us." Alice has been dating some guys online, some she knew, some she doesn't. And they never meet personally. For 5 years we've been best friends, her relationships are always like that. She never let them see her. And I won't call that a relationship.

"I am just being careful you know, I just don't want them taking advantage of my gorgeous body," she said, flipping her hair. "And I am happy with, you know, just talking to them online. If they can't take it, then goodbye. You know I am not gonna be like this forever. I am just waiting for the right man to come along. Waiting can be really tiring, so why deprive myself of all the happiness other guys can give me?"

"You're such a slut!" I threw a pillow at her and we both laughed. I know my best friend, and she is very much in love with just one guy. Kevin, our high school friend who doesn't seem to even notice her. I know she's still waiting for him, even though he's already in a relationship with another girl.

"A slut who's still a virgin, though. Hahaha." She said, throwing the pillow back at me. She sat beside me. "Seriously Lara, you need to loosen up. Leave him a message saying how you feel. If he won't call you back, then you need to get him out of your mind for a while. Chill, relax and enjoy. Let's go to a concert, shop, see movies. Maybe you need to spend time alone somewhere, or meet new friends."

"Yeah. Maybe I'll do that." I said, contemplating everything to myself. "Alright, I better get going. Thanks, Alice, seriously. I never knew you're the only one I needed to be with until now." I said to her.

"Oh come on. I'm your best friend. Of course, I'm the one you always need. Took you a while to realize that huh?" she said. I laughed at her and threw another pillow at her. "Let's go out tonight. We'll meet new friends."

"Alright. I owe you one, so, I'll go."

"That's my girl! I'll call you later."

"Okay." I stood up and grabbed my things. "See you."